I enjoy it for several reasons.
I commute to work 8 months out of the year RSW to MHT.
Much more enjoyable up front and easier to work on the plane if I need to.
My family lives in England and I get to see my sister much more often by giving her tickets I get for almost free (taxes can be high on F tickets).
My son and his family live in Colorado and get to visit us in Florida at least once a year courtesy of FF miles.
When I have a delay/cancellation it's nice to have the Chairmans Desk.
So, is it ego? Not really. Have I done a mileage run to retain status? Yes. But only once in the last three or four years. Do I like the status? Of course, who wouldn't?
Does it feel good to be able to give my family free tickets? YES.
Vacuums are designed to be filled but not all FTers have such a vacuum. Many are sucked in by the airlines, hotels and rental car companies hype and PR indicating upgrades, free travel or stays or other goodies without a psychological need. Only with experience we realize much of this is empty promises, hype and unattainable goals. P T Barnum was a master of this years ago.
i travel for work and i like to game everything im involved in
my 3 hotel statuses are worthless to me. hate hotels and service culture in general. wish i had a key to condo wherever i travel. i accrue credit on them to convert to miles because i enjoy travel.
Programs: UA 2MM, DL 500k, SW CP, GP 1M, HH Gold, Miracle Fruit-su Club
Posts: 3,916
Quote:
Originally Posted by MDtR-Chicago
They?
...
I suggest that as airlines move to monetize every inconvenience and discomfort of the experience, economic man/woman becomes increasingly important and/or obvious. The $1 billion expected by UA, as reported below, comes out of the pockets of the non-elites, an increasing incentive for any but the most infrequent traveler. As a former gf once said, "Your United and mine are two different airlines". (So she made 1P while we were together...)
Now, as to MDtR-Chicago's question above... I have a paltry self-awareness*, but there's irony in the OP posing this thread's question. 26,000 posts, and traveling, too... Or maybe it's not ironic.
*********************
* When I got into the thousands of posts, I began to wonder what was going on... and yes, I do have well over two and a half million miles over the 26 years.
Last edited by Firewind; Jun 23, 09 at 4:32 am.
Reason: To go more gently on the irony
Programs: AA EXP (OW Emerald), CO Plat (*A Gold), AdmsClub, HH Silver, PC Gold. LH/BA/UA pond scum
Posts: 911
Quote:
Originally Posted by magiciansampras
Put simply, do you think there is a link between miles and status mania and either emptiness in one's life or psychological disorder?
Perhaps for some. Not so for others.
I am near the pinnacle of my career, have a great wife, wonderful teenage daughters, am satisfied with my faith, feed the poor, etc. So what is missing?
But, I am obsessing with miles because I want to be able to take my wife on the trip of a liftime when I retire in a couple of years. (a month hopping around the South Pacific in J, at a minimum, F would be nicer.)
Previously I flew 10-20K miles a year. Since last November I have flown 84K miles and am anticipating doing a total of 150K this year.
Now with status I am racking up double miles and life is just a bit easier whenever I leave home for a week or two.
And yes, I did a MR this year to reach top tier in the hopes of upgrading my family on two west-bound TATLs they will be doing later this year. (Plus the 3x miles didn't make it a tough decision)
[quote=Gamecock;11939040]
But, I am obsessing with miles because I want to be able to take my wife on the trip of a liftime when I retire in a couple of years. (a month hopping around the South Pacific in J, at a minimum, F would be nicer.)
QUOTE]
This is an amusing thread. We tend to get into habits and forget how we got started in the first place.
That's me too. I'd like to be able to treat my wife in the style that she would like to become accustomed to. It's not easy to afford those J seats, but she knows that she deserves them.
Reason #2: I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. I don't drink (heavily). I pay my taxes. I don't call off sick when I'm not ill. So this is my vice. Everyone needs at least one vice.
Reason #3: I'm not lucky. I don't win contests. But I feel like I've won the lottery when I pick up a J seat using my miles.
Vacuums are designed to be filled but not all FTers have such a vacuum. Many are sucked in by the airlines, hotels and rental car companies hype and PR indicating upgrades, free travel or stays or other goodies without a psychological need. Only with experience we realize much of this is empty promises, hype and unattainable goals. P T Barnum was a master of this years ago.
MisterNice
MisterNice is right on...and I guess that's why he is a FT Evangelist!
Airline status does make a huge difference in service as noted in many of the previous posts. And hotel status can add some free amenities to a stay, but that really amounts to a larger room, breakfast, or internet access. But IME rental car companies have a lot of hype and very little reward. P T Barnum was right...
No. Some people love to travel either for work or a hobby. Status makes that travel easier and more enjoyable.
Agree 100%
Also, some people like to invest. Some people are workout freaks. Is that to fill a void? Or rather, build a better future? Establishing status, accruing miles etc to a degree is much the same.
Location: SF CA USA. FT addict. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA 1K, Starwood Gold, HH Gold, PC Gold
Posts: 11,098
Quote:
Originally Posted by TravellingMan
I accept that I do get upset when I am unable to use the airline miles and hotel points that I earned by traveling on my own time and spend boring evenings in a hotel. The sacrifice as well as the false promise that the miles or points can be redeemed at certain threshold leads to disappointment.
I realized long time ago that apart from the airline status, the rest are pretty useless. The Airline status has an impact when there is a disruption in service.
This and other cynical comments on this thread seem way off the mark. Some of us FTers (quite a large number, in fact) have had great success over the years redeeming hotel points and airline miles for very nice (sometimes even fabulous ) trips. Maybe some of these cynical FTers need to spend more time on FT learning how to actually make use of all those supposedly "useless" miles and points!
Anyhow, in response to the OP: isn't life all about filling the void?
I have to admit I do like the recognition that comes with being a Marriott Platinum. 1K on United doesn't get me much in the way of recognition from the UA employees, just perks like SWU's.
BTW, I find the phrase "empty void" redundant. Who ever heard of a void that was not empty?
Programs: BMI Gold, UA 1K, AA Gold 1.7MM, DL Gold, CO Plat, HH Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 1,110
Filling a Void??
Approximately 8-10% of the population is prone to addictive behavior. As one of those that has given up the drink, drugs and smoking, I can easily accept that I may have an addiction to collecting miles.
It seems to me to be a much healthier addiction than some of the other possibilities.
And, I too, have never felt better about my life, myself and family.
As long as the collection of miles does not negatively effect other areas of your life:
Programs: UA 1K, IC RA, Marriott Silver, SPG Gold, ¤
Posts: 26,954
Quote:
Originally Posted by dabolix
Nothing wrong with a hobby. And I'm sure most here would agree its quite a useful hobby
Drinking is useful too, though.
And I don't think there is not necessarily wrong with having a hobby. This is a very expensive hobby. We're not talking about jogging or playing basketball here.
Some of us FTers (quite a large number, in fact) have had great success over the years redeeming hotel points and airline miles for very nice (sometimes even fabulous 
) trips. Maybe some of these cynical FTers need to spend more time on FT learning how to actually make use of all those supposedly "useless" miles and points! 
